Following up the NES Classic Edition craze, Nintendo is launching the Super NES Classic Edition.
Hopefully, the retro console this time around won't share the same fate as the previous one, which became elusive mainly due to scalpers and high demand.
On that note, consumers can up their chances of securing one by finding out where to buy the Super NES Classic Edition ahead of time, as well as determining which versions they'll be fine with — U.S., UK, or Japanese variants.
Where To Buy The Super NES Classic Edition: Preorder Guide
For the U.S. Super NES Classic Edition, the first and obvious tip to keep in mind is to stay on top of the landing pages of major retailers in the country, which have already gone up, and sign up to get alerted when the console becomes available.
Here are the live pages so far:
• Amazon
• Best Buy
• Walmart
Now it's worth mentioning that other big-name stores such as GameStop, Target, and Toys "R" Us haven't posted landing pages for the console at the time of this writing.
Of course, don't just limit your options to online means. Head on over to local retailers and ask them to let you know when the systems go on sale and even reserve a unit if possible.
Across the pond, UK consumers are in luck — sort of. While Super NES Classic Edition preorders have already gone live in the country, stocks have quickly run out.
It's a good idea to monitor these as well, as Amazon.co.uk ships to the United States. Game.co.uk usually ships outside the UK too, but that option is apparently not available for the Super NES Classic Edition.
Meanwhile, the Japanese version is not easy to get, but it's not impossible. Buyers can rely on forwarding services and relatives to nab the console there or even perhaps make a visit too, but that's the most expensive route to take.
Last but not least, following Wario64 on Twitter can do wonders, considering his track record of posting ephemeral deals and offers.
UK, US Super NES Classic Edition And The Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom
Between the UK and U.S. versions of the Super NES Classic Edition and the Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom, which is the Japanese variant, there are a couple of notable differences across the board, from external qualities to the preloaded games.
First off, the UK and U.S. systems will have the same 21 games in store. Here's a refresher:
• Contra III: The Alien Wars
• Donkey Kong Country
• EarthBound
• Final Fantasy III
• F-ZERO
• Kirby Super Star
• Kirby's Dream Course
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
• Mega Man X
• Secret of Mana
• Star Fox
• Star Fox 2
• Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
• Super Castlevania IV
• Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
• Super Mario Kart
• Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
• Super Mario World
• Super Metroid
• Super Punch-Out!!
• Yoshi's Island
The Japanese version will pretty much have the same lineup too, but instead of Super Castlevania IV, Super Punch-Out!!, and Kirby's Dream Course, it'll have Panel de Pon or Tetris Attack as it's known in the United States, Super Soccer, and The Legend of the Mystical Ninja.
As for their outside appearances, the Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom is, well, a miniature Famicom, and the UK variant shares the same design too. That's in contrast with the U.S. version that looks like a mini SNES.
That means the Japanese and UK systems' controllers will sport the iconic A-B-X-Y buttons colored in red, yellow, blue, and green respectively, and the U.S. model's controllers will have the purple and lavender color scheme.
The Unreleased Game: 'Starfox 2'
Aside from the dose of nostalgia, arguably one of the many reasons to buy the Super NES Classic Edition is that it'll come with an unreleased game: Starfox 2.
Sure, anyone who has dabbled with ROMs, emulators, and the like will find this underwhelming, but this is the first time it's been released officially, which led to the developers' much-belated launch party.
I am #DrinKING with Star Fox 2 Fellows.@dylancuthbert pic.twitter.com/oak5WyfTq0
— SWERY (Swery65) (@Swery65) June 27, 2017
So today StarFox2 got announced to be released at last today! I'm now out drinking with Imamura-san reminiscing ! — Dylan (@dylancuthbert) June 27, 2017
With those tips in mind, you'll probably have a better chance to score a Super NES Classic Edition, but at any rate, let's keep our fingers crossed it won't be another NES Classic Edition fiasco (read: severe supply shortage).
The Super NES Classic Edition will hold customers back by $79.99, and it'll be released on Sept. 29. Availability could prove to be difficult beyond 2017, as guaranteed shipping is only set until the end of the year.
